Alleged victims testify

Woman, girl take the stand against Walton, tell of sexual abuse

May 17, 2013

MIFFLINTOWN - Two alleged victims of alleged repeated sexual abuse at the hands of Dennis J. Walton testified during a preliminary hearing on Thursday.

Following the hearing for Walton, 51, Magisterial District Judge Barb Lyter bound over all of the charges to the court of common pleas for trial, including 100 counts of rape.

A now-32-year-old woman was the first alleged victim to testify during the hearing.

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Dennis J. Walton

She testified Walton performed various sexual acts on her over a period of several years, which began when she was seven or eight years old. The abuse continued into her teen years, with the last assault occurring when she 21 or 23 years old.

When asked how often she was assaulted, she replied "every time (Walton) got the chance ... practically on a daily basis."

She further testified she was afraid of Walton and he would threaten her.

"I was young and he was stronger than me, what could I do," she said.

The other alleged victim, a now 11-year-old girl testified Walton also abused her on several occasions.

The charges stem from an investigation initiated by a report of suspected child abuse made to authorities by Juniata County Children and Youth Services. Documents indicate the then 10-year-old girl was interviewed by a specialist at the Children's Resource Center on Feb. 21, 2012, police said.

During the interview by CYS, the girl said that on one occasion Walton had her remove her clothing inside a residence, after which he allegedly inappropriately touched her, according to documents. He then allegedly directed the girl to perform a sex act on him, which she described as "unappropriate," police said.

Court documents indicate that during a follow-up interview, the girl said Walton had further inappropriate sexual contact with her three times over the course of several days. She was able to identify details of the alleged incidents using anatomical drawings provided during the interviews, according to documents.

Walton remains inncarcerated in the Mifflin County Correctional Facility in lieu of a combined $100,000 bail. He is represented by Paul Wagner and is expected to appear in the Juniata County Court of Common Pleas in June for a formal arraignment.